"Ebony & Gold"

A Bleach story

By: CrimsonGaze

A/N: New chapter, yay!

"Speech"

Thoughts/Memories

Emphasis

Chapter 010

"Reminiscent"

I was going to head for the barracks, I was actually rather tired.. from all the worry, excitement and of course, my injury. But then something caught my eye, something I know I should have never intruded upon but I couldn't help my self.. I saw you walking away with her, walking the way I sorely wish you would have walked with me.. You would always be welcome to lean on me, to know you could always count on me.

I followed you on a safe distance so you wouldn't know I was there.. I followed you all the way home, and for that whole time, you kept leaning on her shoulder, you leaned on her the way I wish you would on me..

You went inside your neatly kept quarters, I stayed and waited there for her to leave soon.. but she never appeared. She stayed. She stayed with you, you, whom I'd so desperately wanted to be with..

I was torn with the idea of checking up on you, if you were alright.. why did she have to stay? Finally my curiosity got the better of me. My heart skipped a beat as I finally decided to make my way to the tree in front of your bedroom window. My breath got caught in my lungs as I was scared of getting found out.. and I was afraid of what I would see.. The way you walked with that woman.. it brought up images in my head, the kinds of I'd never wish to prove correct, the kinds of I'd never admit to myself seeing.

I only saw you. You were standing in front of your dresses, slowly getting undressed. You looked beautiful but still, I looked away. I did not want to intrude upon you too much.. After a moment that felt like an eternity, I could no longer keep myself in control and pealed my eyes away from the full moon, fixing my longing gaze upon only you and your gorgeous body.

But then she was there.. suddenly she was there, embracing you from behind you, the way I wish I could hold you to myself. You never pushed her away like I hoped, instead you turned around and then.. you kissed her.

The world felt like it had shattered beneath my feet.

I felt a tear slide down my cheek as I continued to watch you. A tear of pure misery as I had just lost something that was never really mine to begin with. I hurt none the less.. You showed her the kind of affection I would kill to receive from you. I was envious. This side of you.. you only show it to her. Why her? Why that woman? Why not me? Never me..

It hurt, hurt so much I felt like crying out in agony but still I could not take my eyes away from you.. I watched as she suddenly pushed you to the bed and gently settled to lay on top of you.. She kissed you the way I wish I could kiss you.. and you kissed her, kissed her the way I wish you would kiss me. The expression on your beautiful face told me that this was not the first time you were with her like this.. the way I wish I could be with you.

She touched you in places I could only dream of exploring.. The way you touched her was something my body was aching for to feel..

A constant movement of two bodies entwined, hands gently tracing each others figures, lips hungrily dancing upon the others, the sounds of complete union between two people.. A swirl of emotions.

It was all too much for me to bear so I made my leave.. but I could find no rest that night..

"Koizumi, you alright?"

The girl was suddenly pulled back to reality and for that, she was grateful. Less grateful she was as she noticed who in fact it was, who was talking to her.

"You've been a little.. out of it." the woman said, looking at the girl intently.

"Hai." the girl nodded. "I'm fine, Soifon-sama."

"If you say so.." the captain settled for that, not wanting to disturb her pupil. "You up for tonight?"

"What?" the red head asked, baffled.

"Training, remember?" Soifon stated, now certain that something was really bothering her young protégé.

"Oh, right!" Koizumi almost yelled as she felt incredibly ashamed for forgetting."How could I have forgotten that.."

"I understand if you're not up to it yet." the raven haired captain said calmly, understanding that she was still recovering.

"Oh no, of course I am!" the young guard protested quickly. "I could never let you down, Soifon-sama."

"You wouldn't be.." she started, but after seeing the enthusiasm in Koizumi's eyes, she sighed. "Alright, if you really feel capable enough to train, who am I to stop you then."

"Hoo, well look what the cat brought in!" Urahara joked, smiling in his characteristic way behind his fan.

"Very funny." Yoruichi responded dully, still smiling though.

"It has been a while since you visited, what brings you here?" her old friend asked, honestly curious as the former princess so rarely visited his humble store anymore.

The tan woman chuckled lightly and got herself a drink of milk from his fridge. "Well I kinda do live here, you know?"

He grabbed his chin thoughtfully. "Really?"

"Ha ha.." Yoruichi said sarcastically, lightly smacking him atop his head, almost causing his precious hat to fall off. "Well sure, I've been spending a little more time in Seireitei.."

"A little?"

"Ok, a lot of time!" Yoruichi gave up, lifting her hands up.

Kisuke scooted closer to his friend, a smug grin on his face. She looked at him in shock, his demeanor was seriously creeping her out. She knew him like a brother and that allowed her to say that he was well.. weird, but he had never looked at her in this way. "What?" Yoruichi grinned, almost laughing out loud at the expression on his face.

"And where exactly.. was it that you spend your.. nights?" he winked, the grin still on his face.

"You ask that in a way I'm sure you needn't be told.." the woman sighed, smiling widely.

"Yes." he nodded. "I would still have appreciated being told by you."

"Eh?"

"I had to hear from Kuukaku-san.. " he sniffed, mocking his sadness.

"Stop it you dork!" Yoruichi laughed. "But I was sure you could tell on your own.."

"Really? I was supposed to notice..?" Kisuke scratched his neck. "I was just wondering where you were so I thought you would be at Kuukaku's.. She corrected my thoughts."

"I'm sure she did.." Yoruichi could only imagine what her friend had told him. "Well then.. Now I'm sure you don't mind if I bring her along next time."

"She has always been welcome to my home." the former captain smiled, happy for his long time friend.

"Maybe we'll even stay the night!"

"Eh?!"

"Yo, Ichigo? You home?"

The boy instantly recognized the voice calling for him, so he stood up from his bench and headed for the window. His friend smiled, or at least that how he interpreted the look on her face, and allowed her to enter. "What brings you here?" he asked.

"Nothing serious, relax." she responded in her masculine voice. "I was just around so I decided to drop by."

"That's strange.." the orange haired boy clasped his chin thoughtfully. "I don't think I've ever seen you unless you had some important news.." he smirked, clearly trying to make her a bad omen. "Come to think of it.. Don't black cat's bring misfortune?"

"What's with everyone today!" Yoruichi said almost in aggravation. "First Kisuke and now even you!"

Suddenly the closet in his room slid open, revealing the small girl residing there, her precious notebook on her lap. She smiled as she saw who Ichigo was talking to and jumped out, gracefully making her way to the cat, settling next to her and stroked her a few times. "Yoruichi-dono."

"Hello Kuchiki." she responded, pushing her cheeks against the girls knuckles.

Ichigo looked at them, a silly, dumbfounded expression on his face.

"What?" Rukia asked as the boy seemed like he was about to say something stupid.

"That's.. sick."

"Huh?"

"She's still human being even if she looks like a cat.." he cleared. "You know, scratching and stroking her like that!" he said when all he received was quiet.

"So?" Yoruichi asked, clearly not wanting the girl to stop. It felt good to be scratched, she was a cat now.

"I dunno Yoruichi.." the blond boy said, shaking his head. "I think that someone could be pretty jealous about that.." he smirked.

"Are you jealous?" the cat answered wickedly, purring louder as the girl continued to pet her.

"What?" he asked, taken off guard. "You know that's not what I mean.." he mumbled, feeling nervous as he understood what the cat meant.

"Then what?" she purred, enjoying the awkwardness emitting from him.

"Well I just heard a rumor the other day.." Ichigo started uncomfortably. "About you and um.."

"Yes?"

"Captain Soifon. Yes, I heard it too." Rukia said, also wanting confirmation to the story.

"Well, well.. those are some rumors you've heard.." Yoruichi responded cattily, standing up on her four legs. "Well, anyway.. I didn't come for a chitchat. Kisuke had something he wanted to speak to you about, both of you.." she continued as she made her way to the window.

"Urahara-san?" Rukia said in a slightly reserved tone, already well aware that this could be something serious once again.

"Just be at his store around eight.. I'm sure he'll explain everything there." the black cat grinned and jumped off the window, quickly disappearing from sight.

"So much happening today, first that transfer student, now Urahara has something.. man!"

Two sets of hands and feet moved with incredible speed as punches and kicks were exchanged, two forces trying to subdue the other, neither seeming to get the upper hand. A blow and a counter blow, a swing of the sword, countered by another blade.

After a while, the younger one of the battlers seemed to slow down.. or the other just got faster. Be it either case, the fight ended, and the young one was pinned down on the ground, her back against the lush grass, her mentor blocking her escape with her own body.

Koizumi blushed from their close proximity, the heat of her senpai's body enforcing the redness in her cheeks, her smell intoxicating her mind, making her sigh contently even though she had just lost the fight.

Soifon was proud. Her pupil had held out for a long period of time even though she was still recovering and for the fact that she had not withheld herself..well, not too much anyway. Soifon smiled a slight, satisfied smile, stood up and presented her hand to her pupil.

The red head accepted the offered hand and pushed forward as her captain pulled her up. She smiled, she was really enjoying herself.. she so rarely got to spend any time with her sole interest in private so she cherished each moment they had. Quickly getting back to the present, Koizumi bowed slightly, thanking her superior for the match.

"You did good." Soifon praised. "It won't take long for you to lead the protection squad."

"I am undeserving." the girl again bowed, feeling happy to hear praises from her mentor. "Another round, then?" she asked.

"You should not overdo it." Soifon responded calmly.

"But commander, I'm very much capable of-"

The small captain presented her objection just by lifting her hand calmly. Koizumi instantly went silent, looking at her feet, she felt a ting of sadness as she had so wanted to spend time with her captain. Suddenly a gentle palm was laid on her shoulder and she looked up, she saw the most beautiful thing in her life.. Soifon was smiling at her gently, the reassuring hand still warmly on her shoulder. "Rest is a big part of recovering, you should not overlook it."

"Yes, Soifon.. sama." she sighed, again feeling dizzy as her mentor was this close to her.

"Let's head back." the raven haired captain said simply, withdrew her hand and turned to walk away, Koizumi quickly following close behind her.

"Ichigo still not here!" Ririn complained.

"I'm sure he'll be here any minute now." Cloud comforted her.

"Mmh." Nova nodded in agreement, saying no actual words like usual.

"Kurosaki-kun wont come here.. he's got other obligations first." the owner of the store stated calmly, already knowing full well what was going on.

"Kisuke, what do you mean?" Yoruichi asked guardedly.

"Hmm.. I was also wondering that myself." he answered thoughtfully, knowing Yoruichi would see right through him but he didn't care.

Yoruichi just gave him the ´I hope you know what you're doing´ look.

"Ririn, Cloud, Nova.. You better go to the roof, who know, someone might need your help soon." Urahara said calmly.

"Huh?" the bird asked but followed his instructions none the less as they all headed out.

It was already well over midnight as Yoruichi finally made it to her destination. It was dark and quiet, but she managed to find her way on the bed, next to the woman whom she had grown to love very deeply. As she settled to lay down, she gently traced her fingers on the fine skin of Soifon's cheek, causing the small woman to stir slightly.

She turned around, her back now towards Yoruichi, who smiled warmly and slipped under the same covers with Soifon. She placed her hand over Soifon's side, slowly bringing it upwards and slightly caressing a soft breast. Soifon was awake by now, so she gently pulled Yoruichi's hand in hers and settled back to sleep, the tan woman quickly falling asleep behind her.

-Chapter 010 END-

A/N: Well, I thought it was finally time to move on with the main story, slowly yet surely we're making the way to meet the masked warriors. Seeing that neither Yoruichi nor Soifon had much air-time during the first contact with the new enemy (except when Yoruichi kick Arrancar ass) I'll have to come up with something for them to do.. Hmm, I wonder what that could be? Anyways, I hope you enjoy this newest installment, even though admittedly it was a little short. Apologies for that! Oh, and be kind enough to leave a review, please!